UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, Penn State has 15 former players who are a part of seven franchises remaining in the Divisional Round. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Playoff teams remaining with Nittany Lions featured are as follows: Bills (WR KJ Hamler*, CB Daequan Hardy*, DT Austin Johnson, DL DaQuan Jones, OL Connor McGovern), Chiefs (OL Hunter Nourzad), Commanders (WR Mitchell Tinsley*), Eagles (RB Saquon Barkley, CB Tariq Castro-Fields*, WR Jahan Dotson), Lions (WR Allen Robinson), Ravens (LB Adisa Isaac, LB Odafe Oweh, P Jordan Stout), Texans (OL Juice Scruggs). Practice squad players designated with an asterisk.
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND SCHEDULE
Saturday, Jan. 18
Game 1 (4:30 p.m. – ESPN/ABC/ESPN+): Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Nittany Lions featured: OL Juice Scruggs (Texans), OL Hunter Nourzad (Chiefs)
Game 2 (8 p.m. – FOX): Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Nittany Lions featured: WR Mitchell Tinsley (Commanders), WR Allen Robinson (Lions)
Sunday, Jan. 19
Game 1 (3 p.m. – NBC/Peacock): Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Nittany Lions featured: RB Saquon Barkley (Eagles), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (Eagles), WR Jahan Dotson (Eagles)
Game 2 (6:30 p.m. – CBS/Paramount+): Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Nittany Lions featured: LB Adisa Isaac (Ravens), LB Odafe Oweh (Ravens), P Jordan Stout (Ravens), WR KJ Hamler (Bills), CB Daequan Hardy* (Bills), DT Austin Johnson (Bills), DL DaQuan Jones (Bills), OL Connor McGovern (Bills)
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND RECAP
In the Wild Card round, 21 Penn Staters were on the rosters of 10 playoff teams. Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Jahan Dotson made significant impacts in their team’s win, with Barkley rushing for 119 yards and Dotson hauling in a touchdown reception. Odafe Oweh performed well defensively, recording a sack in Baltimore’s win over Pittsburgh.
Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in last week’s Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Recorded 119 rushing yards on 25 carries.
- Caught two passes for four yards.
- During the regular season, led the NFL in rushing yards (2,005), rushing yards per game (125.3), was second in yards per carry (5.8, minimum 150 carries), and finished eighth in the league in rushing touchdowns with 13.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Is a member of Philadelphia’s practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Was elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Wild Card round as the Packers’ emergency third quarterback.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Hauled in an 11-yard touchdown in Philadelphia’s Wild Card win.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ravens 28, Steelers 14
- Caught three passes for 15 yards.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
- Is on injured reserve.
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Broncos 7
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Broncos 7
- Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.
Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Steelers 14
- Was inactive.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Broncos 7
- Recorded two solo tackles.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Broncos 7
- Made two tackles (1 solo).
Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.
- Signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers on Jan. 13.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Broncos 7
- Active but did not see action.
Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs Wild Card bye
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Steelers 14
- Posted two solo tackles, including a sack.
- Added three quarterback hits.
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ravens 28, Steelers 14
- Posted six solo stops.
- Defended a pass.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions
Lions Wild Card bye
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 32, Chargers 12
- Returned to the starting lineup for the Texans, playing 88 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps in the win.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Steelers 14
- Punted four times for 183 yards, a 45.8 yards per punt average.
- Landed one punt inside the 20-yard line.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
- Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Eagles 22, Packers 10
- Made his 17th start of the season for the Packers.
- Has played every offensive snap this season for Green Bay.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.